Fire-escape



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. WEAVER.

FIRE ESGAPE. N0. 398,479. Patented Feb. 26, 1889.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. W. WEAVER.

' FIRE ESCAPE.

P10392479. PatentedFeb. 26, 1889.

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MT STATES PATnNT tlrrrcn.

JOHN \VARREN \VEAVER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Fl RE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,479, dated February 26, 1889.

Application filed June 8, 1888. serial No. 276,531. (No model.)

To all whom. it may cancer/t:

Be it known that I, JOHN WARREN \YEAVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in FireEscapes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in providing a fire escape comprising a folding ladder and folding balconies so constructed and arranged that when folded they will occupy but little space and not detract from or injure the general appearance of a building to which my improvement may be applied.

The invention further consists in novel means for operating the same, whereby 011 releasing a certain retaining device the ladder will automatically open, and in so doing exert the force requisite for opening the folded balconies and quickly and positively put the escape in a position ready for use.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a house having my improvement applied thereto and shown ready for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same 011 the line x :0, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side View of the ladder shown partly in section. Fig. at is a transverse section of the ladder. Fig. 5 is a detail showing a certain releasing device. Fig. 6 is a plan of the balcony and ladder in an open position. Fig. 7 is a side view of the balcony shown in a closed position. Fig. 8 is a detail of a certain stop-motion. Figs. 3 to 8, inclusive, are drawn on an enlarged scale, and similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

A designates a folding ladder consisting of two side portions, A A each made semicircular in cross-section of plate metal. They are connected by I-shape bars A serving as rungs, the cross-pieces a of which are pivoted in blocks a, secured to the interior of said sides. The side A is secured to the wall of a building by bolts c or other suitable means, and preferably has washers a' interposed between it and the wall. This side A has at its lower end a cylindrical part, A and at its upper end a cover-plate, A, secured thereto. The side A has its lower end beveled to fit a corresponding beveled part of the side A when closed, and has secured to its upper end an eyepiece, A, to which is secured a cable,

A which passes over a pulley, A mounted to turn in the side A, from whence it passes over a pulley, A mounted on a stud secured to the wall inside the building. From this pulley the cable extends downward within a recesssueh as used. forinside shuttersand terminates at the first iioor, or it may be extended to the ground-floor, if desired. This cable is provided with an eye-piece, A for engagement with a retaining device, 18, consisting of a hook, I), fulcruined on a stud, 11, secured to thewall and having an arm, 11 of sufficient weight to hold the hook uppermost. A link, 7J3, connects the arm b to a lever, b, fulcruined at b to a'pin secured to the wall, and a wire, b",is attached to the lever at b and extends upwardly through the various floors. To this wire is attached at each floor cords or chains b passing over pulleys b and provided with pull-pieces b. By pulling any of these cords b the hook b is disengaged from the eye A of the cable, the latterbeing held by a pin, Z), and the side A of the ladder is then free to fall by gravity until the end thereof rests on the ground, when the rungs A will be horizontal. At a suitable distance from the ground the sides A A of the ladder are provided with projecting spikes a to prevent persons climbing the said ladder when closed.

0 designates folding balconies arranged on the exterior of the windows, and shown more fully in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, in which 01 d are window-sashes, (Z sash-weight boxes, (Z recesses inside the windows-such as are used for inside shuttersd" the wall, and d the window'sill.

E is the platform of the balcony, here shown as consisting of two sections, E E made of ordinary lattice-bars. The inner side of the section E is hinged to a rod, c, extending across the window near the sill and mounted to turn in bearing-pieces e, secured to the wall. The opposite side of the section E is hinged to a rod, 6 to which also is hinged the section E and the opposite side of which section is hinged to a rod, 6 A front balcony-railing, E is hinged to the rod c f is a lever rigidly secured to the rod 6 and pivotally connected to the rod 6 f is another lever rigidly secured to the rod e and having its free end attached to the cable 1U. \Vhen the latter is raised by the opening of the ladder, the levers ff are:

g g are chains secured to the wall and con spikes on a part of their exterior surfaces, substantially as specified.

3. In a fire escape, a ladder constructed substantially as described, having rungs consisting of I-shape bars pivotally connected at i their extremities to independent blocks senected to the rod 6 for supporting the platsupport for said platform when open, and an form when open.

II is an extension device to form a side railing to the platform,and also to maintain the front railing in a perpendicular position. It consists of aslotted post, h, mounted loosely on the rod c and having its upper end secured to the wall.

h is a slotted post mounted loosely on the rod 6 and connected to the upper end of the railing E 71 is a bar having one end mounted loosely on the rod e and its other end pivoted to a bar, h", which is loosely mounted on the rod 6 71 is a bar having a stud to slide in the slotted bar 72- and its other end pivoted to a bar, 71 having a stud to slide in the slotted post h.

The bars 7L2 7r and Its h are respectively pivoted together midway of their length.

By my improvement I provide a ladder 6X- tending to the ground and which cannot be usedby burglars by reason of its cylindrical form and projecting spike portion, and the ladder affords facilities for the use of firemen in case of fire. In order to fold the escape after being opened, I may arrange a Windlass near the lower end of the cable, to which a cord may be secured and passed round the said Windlass. I may also, in lieu of the lever f, extend the lever f rearwardly through a notch in the window-frame to which the cable may be attached. I may also dispense with the lever f and secure the platform rigid to the rod 6.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In av fire-escape, a folding ladder comprising two side portions, one side being secured to a dwelling and having a cylindrical bottom portion and a cover secured to its upper end, the other side having its bottom end beveled to fit a corresponding part in the fixed side when closed, connecting-bars pivotally connected to blocks secured to the interior of said sides, a pulley mounted on the upper end of the fixed side, and an eye-piece secured to the movable side, through which a cable is secured and passed over the said pulley and secured to a suitable retaining device, whereby the release of the cable will cause the ladder to automatically open by gravity, substantially as specified.

2. In a fire-escape, a folding ladder constructed substantially as described, having its side portions provided with projecting cured to the side portionso'f said ladder, substantially as described.

4. In a fire-escape, afolding balcony adapted to fold into a position above a window-sill, a

inwardly-extendin g lever for opening the balcony, rigidly secured to the hinge-rod e, and having its free end attached to the cable A whereby the weight of the movable side A of the ladder serves on opening to operate and open the balcony, substantially as described.

5. In a fire-escape, a folding balcony comprising a platform in two or more sections adapted 'to fold within a window-opening and remain closed, the said. platform havinghingejoints provided with the stop portions 6 and e to retain the same flatwise when open, chains for supporting the balcony when open, a lever rigidly connected to the rod 6, and pivotally connected to the hinge-rod 6 ,2111 i11- wardly-eXtending lever for opening the bal' cony, rigidly secured to the rod 6 and having its free end secured. to a suitable retainingdevice, substantially as described.

6. I11 a fire-escape, a folding balcony comprising a platform in two or more sections hinged together and adapted to fold into a vertical position above a window-sill, chains for supporting said platform, a front railing hinged to said platform, the extension device H, comprising the upright slotted posts 71 h" and intermediate bars, 7L2 it" h" 7L5, a lever secured to the rod d and pivot-ally connected lo the rod (Z another lever secured to the rod (.7, and having its free end attached to the cable A whereby the weight of the movable side of the ladder serves on opening to operate and open the balconies, substantially as specified.

7. In a iii-c-escag m, the combination of the folding ladder A, having a chain secured to the movable side and passing over a pulley mounted in the stationary side, and from thence extending downwardly through a series of floors, the retaining device B, operated by a wire extending vertically through a series of floors and provided. with suitable actuating means, the folding balconies (i, having their operating-levers attached to the cable A whereby the release of the said cable will cause the ladder to automatically open, and in so doing exert the requisite force for opening the balconies simultaneously therewith, substantially as described.

J OI IN \VARR-EN \VEAVER.

\Vitnesses:

W. ORowE, GEO. WADMAN.

TOO 

